Biophilic design is finally being recognised for it’s fundamental role in our wellbeing and is a great way to ensure you are surrounded by the healing power of nature when you’re at home. Aside from just adding lots of plants, there’s many other unexpected ways to bring biophilic elements indoors that are timeless and tasteful. Here’s some our most loved biophilic ideas.
Consider adding natural prints
Using pattern and print is a great way to add in natural motifs. We like to use a small scale, repeating foliage print in a wallpaper or fabric to ensure it doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the scheme and is subtle enough to be layered with other finishes and materials. Think beyond the obvious green, neutral prints work really nicely as well as natural ochres, terracottas, browns and greys
Think about touch points
Our connection to nature is deeper than the visual connection. Think about elements in a space that you come in to contact with or touch regularly. We like to make the most of these moments and use natural materials with an interesting hand-feel to increase this connection. Natural stone or marble on a worktop is really easy win along with wooden knobs or cabinet pulls. Oak with a characterful grain works really well on a handrail too.
Use an earthy colour palette
Our spaces are fundamentally grounded in nature and we often start a project with a landscape, picture or natural reference as the jumping off point to the colour scheme of a space. Use a landscape image to pick three or four colours from and use them in varying proportions. Think about incorporating them in wall colours, finishes, furnishings and styling elements.
Maximise a view or natural artwork
The easiest win is a beautiful view out to nature. If this is a possibility, make the most of it by considering the furniture layout and function of the space to maximise the opportunity for views outside. This technique also works well by using a beautiful landscape painting, tapestry or natural sculpture as a focal point if a real view isn’t an option.
Use raw materials thoughtfully
At Reformation Studio, we’re naturally drawn to natural materials and like to use them in an abundant yet refined way. We will, however, punctuate a space with natural materials in their raw state to add texture, interest and break up a view. Think about adding in raw, rough-sawn wood, stone and dried materials like jute sparingly for maximum biophilic impact. The key is using biophilic elements that just feel right with the rest of the space rather than looking out of place or too dominant, balance is what we strive for.